英语沙龙：6月26日 彩衣魔笛手节

June 26 Pied Piper Day

One summer day in the Middle Ages，a strange man in multicolored（that is，pied）clothing strode into the German town of Hamelin．Learning that the town was infested¹ with rats，the stranger offered to dispose of the rodents² －－for a fee．When the burg hers gratefully agreed，the stranger whipped out a flute³ and played a mysterious tune⁴ that proved an irresistible⁵ rat lure⁶．Rats swarmed⁷ out of every house in Hamelin and followed the Pied Piper to the banks of the Weser River.Then they followed him into the swirling⁸ waters and were drowned．

When the burghers refused to pay the piper，he devised a plan of revenge．Once again putting his pipe to his lips，he played yet another air－－one that seduced⁹ not rodents but children．Parents watched helplessly as the Pied Piper，playing merrily，led all of Hamelin's youngsters out of town，after which they were never seen again．

Although opinions vary on the exact d ate of the piper's revenge，the German government holds with June26，1284．The town of Hamelin stages Pied Piper plays every Sunday from June to September．Children form the bulk of the cast，but as130was the alleged¹⁰ number who went with the piper on that fateful day in 1284，the cast of today' s productions is ritually limited to130．

6月26日 彩衣魔笛手节

在中世纪的一个夏日里，一个穿彩衣的陌生人大步走进德国的哈默尔恩镇。他听说这个镇里老鼠成灾，表示可以消灭它们---不过要收一笔费用。当市民们感激地表示同意时，陌生人立即拿出一支笛子，吹出了一种神奇的曲调。这曲调对老鼠有不可抗拒的诱惑力。于是老鼠从镇里的各家各户成群地跑了出来，跟着彩衣魔笛手来到威悉河岸，跟着他走进激流之中，统统淹死在河里。

可是市民们却拒不付钱给他，于是他想了一个办法报复他们。他再次把笛子拿到唇边，吹出了另一种曲调---这个曲调不是引诱老鼠而是引诱孩子的。父母们无奈地望着彩衣魔笛手吹起了欢快的笛声，带着所有的孩子走出了哈默尔恩镇。人们从此再没见到孩子们的踪影。

对于笛手究竟是在哪天进行报复的，人们众说不一，不过德国政府认为是在１２８４年６月２６日。每年从６月到９月的每个星期天，哈默尔恩镇都要上演彩衣魔笛手的戏，由孩子们主演。据说在１２８４年那灾难的一天有１３０人跟着笛手走了，所以，演戏的演员通常都限定为１３０人。

1 infested   

adj.为患的，大批滋生的（常与with搭配）v.害虫、野兽大批出没于( infest的过去式和过去分词 )；遍布于

参考例句：

• The kitchen was infested with ants. 厨房里到处是蚂蚁。
• The apartments were infested with rats and roaches. 公寓里面到处都是老鼠和蟑螂。

2 rodents   

n.啮齿目动物( rodent的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Rodents carry diseases and are generally regarded as pests. 啮齿目动物传播疾病，常被当作害虫对待。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Some wild rodents in Africa also harbor the virus. 在非洲，有些野生啮齿动物也是储毒者。 来自辞典例句

3 flute   

n.长笛；v.吹笛

参考例句：

• He took out his flute, and blew at it.他拿出笛子吹了起来。
• There is an extensive repertoire of music written for the flute.有很多供长笛演奏的曲目。

4 tune   

n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整

参考例句：

• He'd written a tune,and played it to us on the piano.他写了一段曲子，并在钢琴上弹给我们听。
• The boy beat out a tune on a tin can.那男孩在易拉罐上敲出一首曲子。

5 irresistible   

adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的

参考例句：

• The wheel of history rolls forward with an irresistible force.历史车轮滚滚向前，势不可挡。
• She saw an irresistible skirt in the store window.她看见商店的橱窗里有一条叫人着迷的裙子。

6 lure   

n.吸引人的东西，诱惑物；vt.引诱，吸引

参考例句：

• Life in big cities is a lure for many country boys.大城市的生活吸引着许多乡下小伙子。
• He couldn't resist the lure of money.他不能抵制金钱的诱惑。

7 swarmed   

密集( swarm的过去式和过去分词 )； 云集； 成群地移动； 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去

参考例句：

• When the bell rang, the children swarmed out of the school. 铃声一响，孩子们蜂拥而出离开了学校。
• When the rain started the crowd swarmed back into the hotel. 雨一开始下，人群就蜂拥回了旅社。

8 swirling   

v.旋转，打旋( swirl的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Snowflakes were swirling in the air. 天空飘洒着雪花。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• She smiled, swirling the wine in her glass. 她微笑着，旋动着杯子里的葡萄酒。 来自辞典例句

9 seduced   

诱奸( seduce的过去式和过去分词 )； 勾引； 诱使堕落； 使入迷

参考例句：

• The promise of huge profits seduced him into parting with his money. 高额利润的许诺诱使他把钱出了手。
• His doctrines have seduced many into error. 他的学说把许多人诱入歧途。

10 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为